2026 Best Value Gerontology Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in gerontology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Gerontology Schools
California State University Sacramento tops our 2026 list of the best value gerontology schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Gerontology graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Gerontology graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $38,461 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Portland Community College earned it the #2 place for gerontology. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, compared with $10,440 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,648 to complete the gerontology program here. Early-career gerontology graduates make about $49,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Southern California is a great value for students pursuing a degree in gerontology, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $15,625. Soon after graduation, gerontology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $57,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Narrow Gerontology Schools by State
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Gerontology](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/gerontology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
